“He applied last year, too,” he said and then shrugged. “When it didn’t work out for him, he kept calling, wanting to know why he wasn’t accepted. I guess it messed up his big plans. He lives on a hobby farm with executive parents who work near Lansing and aren’t around much other than to buy him stuff.”
“Like computers and video games?” Mick lowered his voice to ask the next part. “Didn’t seem like a good psychological fit for the program?”
“Something like that.”
Mick nodded, aware that information should have been confidential, except possibly between the two of them. “Hey, it’s getting cold out here. I don’t have any furniture, but come inside. I have tea, cocoa or coffee.”
“I kind of had another idea,” Riley said. “Since I don’t really have anywhere to stay, and my car’s in the garage—if there still is a garage—I wondered if you could give me a ride to the hospital. I need to see my sister and see if I can camp out at her house for a while.”
“I can take you, but why me?”
At that, Riley chuckled. “From what I’ve heard, we’re practically family. I do have to say you work fast, though. I wasn’t gone that long. And from what I hear, you’ve been in town an even shorter amount of time. The twins are crazy about you. And my sister—”
“Sorry.” Mick lifted a hand, signaling for him to stop. “This is just too awkward. In addition to that, your sister, uh, doesn’t want to see me.”
“Well, that’s too bad because you’re my ride. She’ll just have to live with it.” Riley gestured to Mick’s truck, and they both started toward it. “Could we make a stop to pick up Carly and Carissa on the way? I’m dying to see my girls.”
They were parked outside Stacy’s house before Mick tried again.
“How do you know about…”
“I have my ways.” Riley grinned at the windshield. “Seriously, I told you I got kicked out today. I needed a ride. Peter was off, so he helped me out.”
“And filled you in.”
He smiled again, not disagreeing, though he couldn’t help wondering just how much his friend knew. Then, for the first time since he’d met Riley, the man’s expression became serious.
“You’re not just ‘hanging out’ with my sister, are you? Because she’s been through a lot, and I don’t think she could take—”
“No. Never.” His vehemence surprised even him. “But like I said, we’re not…”
“Good. I’d hate to have to kick your ass when I’ve only just met you.”
“And since I’m your ride.”
A few minutes later, the girls were buckled in the back seat of the quad cab, chatting about fires and how their mom was okay, as they drove toward Mount Isabel Regional Hospital.
“You two will figure it out,” Riley said, breaking the silence in the front seat.
Mick nodded, his throat thick. “Either way, if you ever need to talk with someone about…you know…anything, I just wanted to let you know that my dad’s an alcoholic, so…” He stopped and shrugged.
Riley kept staring at the windshield. “I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. Doing my ‘thirty in thirty,’ attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting every day for a month. I was able to attend one at the center before I left today.”
“You know, I think we’re all going to be okay.” Mick hoped by saying it, he could make it true.
“I hope so, man. I really hope so.”
Chapter 26
Rachel leaned forward in her hospital bed as the certified nursing assistant propped a pillow behind her head and then checked the amount of saline in her IV. At the door, past the curtain that separated the double room, the veteran, take-no-prisoners staff member who’d written “Anne” on Rachel’s patient board, called back to her.
“Looks like you have a handsome visitor out here,” she said. “A verylatevisitor, who we hope won’t stay long.”
Rachel sat up straighter and swiped at her hair to push it back from her face, her heart racing. She didn’t know why she bothered fussing. Mick had already seen her at her worst, and after the fit she’d thrown at the fire scene, she’d guessed he would never speak to her again. She still wasn’t sure what she would say to him if he did.
But the man who rounded the curtain turned out to be her brother instead. She let out a yelp when she saw him. “Oh my gosh, Riley. How did you find out I was here? When did you get…out?”
Already, tears were threatening, so she took a few deep breaths, trying to hold them back. It was bad enough that he had to see her like this, but it would be worse when she told him that his house had been destroyed because of her.
